July 12

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the overnight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he earseth for you

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have valked a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you

11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen

Unquestionably there is a personal devil, full of malignity, perversity and falsehood. He seeks his prey "as a roaring lion;" therefore, watch. He is "your adversary;" do not believe him.

"Some there are that will go from Rome to England to make proselytes; but the devil will go from one end of the world to the other, and walk from pole to pole, till he hath put a girdle about the loins of the earth, to make a man the 'child of hell like himself.'"—Adams.

"Where, then, is thy strength to resist him? It cannot be in thyself, nor in thy best exertions. The devil would laugh at these, and all would be but as feathers to the breath of his temptations. Hear what the apostle saith: 'Whom resist steadfast in the faith.' See here where thy strength is. Faith in Jesus is the only, and it is an infallible defence against all the fiery darts of the wicked. There is nothing that Satan dreads but the blood of the cross. There is nothing that conquers him but faith in Jesus' blood. Tell him of the blood which cleanseth from all sin, and he will flee from thee."—Robert Hawker, D. D.

Closet Promise.—The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation.—2 Peter ii. 9.

When we stand upon the big mountain, let us pray, Hold me up lest I fall; and when we put on our daily garments, let us ask for the anointing. It is the man who is full of joy and delight who is called upon to be watchful. When all is calm with us we may expect a hurricane. It is the worst devil when we cannot see any devil, for then perhaps the rascal has got inside of us and is ready to give us a deadly stab.—C. H. Spurgeon.